The obvious question, aside from how one studies to become a beer critic, is why Maddon is starting so many ventures — including the beer, a family pasta sauce and a soon-to-open restaurant with his name attached — without knowing if he’ll be managing in Chicago after this season.

Maddon is a celebrity manager, and he’s using that status to help fund his charitable foundation, Respect 90 — a laudable effort, to be sure. But will Chicagoans drink Maddon’s beer, buy Maddon’s pasta sauce and eat at Maddon’s restaurant if he’s managing the Phillies or the Giants next year?

Maddon said he wants to return, naturally, but doesn’t think it should matter if he’s here or not. A good product is a good product, no matter where he’s managing in 2020. Maddon’s Tampa, Fla., restaurant, Ava, continues to be a financial and critical success five years after he left the Rays for the Cubs, but it doesn’t have his name on it.

Maddon doesn’t worry about any of this. When the Cubs started the season 2-7, he said he had “zero” concerns about having to turn things quickly because of his lame-duck status. Last winter he compared himself to a free agent — like Manny Machado or Bryce Harper — in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times.

“Why would I feel any different as a manager than a good player does, a Machado or a Harper, whatever?” he said. “You could say ‘lame duck’ or you could use ‘free agent.’ They are both the same term.”

Photos of Joe Maddon, the 2015 NL Manager of the Year.

Of all the free-agent signings team President Theo Epstein made since he came to Chicago, perhaps only Jon Lester’s deal has paid dividends like Maddon’s five-year, $25 million contract. Maddon helped change the culture and end an infamous drought while providing a lot of laughs along the way, not the least of which was the “Try Not to Suck” mantra.

The Cubs seemingly have shrugged off their poor start and played up to expectations the last two weeks. But certainly they will have more bumps in the road during the long season, and perhaps more questions will arise about whether Maddon will be here next year and beyond.

No one knows Maddon like Dodgers President Andrew Friedman, who hired Maddon to manage the Rays after the 2005 season. Together they transformed the Rays organization, which remains one of the more forward-thinking franchises long after Friedman and Maddon departed for more money in larger markets.

Is Friedman surprised Maddon doesn’t have a contract extension after the success he has had in Chicago?

“It’s hard for me to comment on, not being mired in the day to day and knowing the specifics,” Friedman said Tuesday before the opener of a three-game series at Wrigley Field. “But I’d be shocked if Joe wasn’t here long term.”

Friedman signed his manager, Dave Roberts, to a four-year extension in December. Roberts’ salary was not announced, though the Orange County Register speculated it likely was comparable to the four-year, $12 million deal Astros manager A.J. Hinch received in 2018 after winning the World Series.

The Cubs are paying Maddon $6 million in 2019, which includes a $1 million bonus for winning the 2016 World Series. His agent, Alan Nero, criticized the media for making a big deal of Maddon’s contract status when Nero and Epstein agreed in November to table contract talks until after the season.

“We actually have 12 months to worry about it, but you guys won’t let it go,” Nero said. “This will be something that will be discussed once a week for the next 52 weeks, OK? And you won’t let it go. There will be all this speculation, if he had a bad day, or if he had a good day — they should (keep him), they shouldn’t. … I mean, God, I hate it. The press would’ve never done this 20 years ago, 30 years ago. Now you (reporters) are all competing (for clicks).”

Maddon should at least get a deal similar to Roberts’ — if not for more money.

Maddon and Roberts are kindred spirits who remain popular with fans and enjoy engaging with the media. If they switched jobs, it would be an easy transition for both. Of course, Maddon and Roberts also have endured some heavy criticism despite their success: Maddon for his handling of Aroldis Chapman in the 2016 World Series and Roberts for lifting Rich Hill with a one-hitter in the seventh inning of the Game 4 loss to the Red Sox in last year’s World Series.

Still, it’s always entertaining when Maddon and Roberts go head-to-head, much like the Dusty Baker-Tony La Russa showdowns of 2003-06, albeit without the mutual hate.

Roberts was asked Tuesday if it matters whom he’s playing chess with in the opposing dugout.

“It does matter,” he said. “There are some managers that are more conservative and manage their roster differently than Joe. I put him more on the aggressive side, and he’ll do some unconventional things, so you’ve got to be prepared.”

While fans enjoy this star-filled, early-season series between the Cubs and Dodgers, they now can raise a glass of Try Not to Suck beer and toast an unconventional manager who makes sure things never are dull.